Machar addresses South Sudanese community in Cairo

February 7, 2016 (CAIRO) – South Sudanese First Vice-President designate, Riek Machar, has told the South Sudanese community in Egypt to support the full implementation of the peace agreement he signed in August 2015 with President Salva Kiir.

Machar who on over the weekend addressed supporters of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), which he leads, said he and his faction are committed to the peace agreement.

Thousands of members of the South Sudanese community, majority of who support the SPLM-IO vision, converged in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to listen to the top armed opposition leader.

“My chairman, Comrade Dr Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon has briefed the South Sudanese community in Cairo on the status of the implementation of the peace agreement,” James Gatdet Dak, Machar’s press secretary told Sudan Tribune on Saturday when asked about the visit.

He said the opposition leader and his delegation have also met a number of senior officials in the Egyptian government and may meet the President on Tuesday as he wraps up his five-day visit to the Arab Republic.

Machar and his delegation were also given an opportunity to tour the thousands of years old ancient Egyptian pyramids at Giza on Monday.

The visit is the first of its kind since the split of South Sudan from Sudan in July 2011.

(ST)